How to Prepare Your Car for Holiday Driving


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Get your vehicle ready for a holiday road trip.

For most of us, proper preparation for your upcoming holiday road trip is more about wedging suitcases into the trunk and grabbing that famous stuffing recipe than it is about car maintenance. We certainly understand; the holiday season is a hectic one. However, a little advance planning can make a huge difference in getting to your destination in one piece and arriving with a few shreds of sanity left! Here are five ways to ready your car (and yourself) for the great holiday tradition: the road trip.

1. Get Your Car Serviced

With your vehicle about to hit the road, it’s important to make sure that everything’s running smoothly. There are a few key areas to which you should pay special attention:


Fluids: The various fluids under the hood keep the mechanicals in your car from seizing, which means it’s vital to check and change them if necessary. We’re talking about oil, transmission, and brake fluid. Also, be sure that your windshield wiper fluid is good to go when hitting the road!


Coolant system: Extreme temperatures force the coolant system to work overtime. Have the antifreeze, hoses, and radiator checked.

Windshield wipers: Bad windshield wipers can make driving in the rain a nightmare. If your blades are more than six months old, odds are it’s time to swap them out for new ones.

Tires: Have your tires rotated and inspected. The last thing you need is to be driving on bald tires. Now is the time to replace any tires that are too worn.

Book a service at any of our dealerships here https://www.pupkewitz-motors.com/service-parts/booking/

2. Make an Emergency Kit

When temperatures rise or dip, having car trouble can go from being an annoyance to a danger. Stock your car for that ‘just in case’ moment with the right supplies.

For getting out of trouble: Jumper cables, kinetic snatch rope, blankets, and water of course!

3. Safeguard the Interior

On a road trip, it is a given you are going to spend a lot of time ducking in and out of the car, you might want to grab some all-weather floor mats. They are easy to clean and do a great job of keeping the sand in one place. Also handy: durable paper towels or a cloth, and a trash can (or dedicated trash bag). Those burgers and fries make for messy meals.

4. Stock up on Entertainment for the Kids/Fidgety Adults

Keeping passengers entertained is important for two reasons. First, it keeps everyone sane during the long journey, and we know how crazy it can get on road trips. But more importantly, it also keeps them from distracting the driver. Tools of the trade include games, books, a sing-along set list (the cheesier the better), and some car-friendly arts and crafts.

5. Do a Little Research

Map your route:Navigation maps on your phone or GPS device have become a key item in the road warrior’s toolbox. They are great for rerouting, arrival time estimates, and on-the-fly route planning, but it is not the same as hopping on a computer or busting out the atlas (there must be some committed map readers out there). You will be able to see the full route, which will let you check for road closures or traffic issues. Plus, sometimes electronics fail. It is good to have a backup.

Check the weather: We tend to check the weather at our destination before leaving on a trip. That is smart, but it is smarter to also watch the weather for the entire journey. That way, you know what to plan for along the route – like whether you will need an umbrella or sunshades and shorts.